offshore communication

[carisea]

still trying to research the most reliable and least expensive way to achieve, voice, e-mail, weather data. Not really interested in surfing the web except to get to NOAA or e-mail service. I have icom ssb and a laptop so if I go with this and add a pactor modem this will work but not sure of reliability. ($1000 for modem) any other charges? OR Global Star Sat Phone ,usb cable to laptop ($500 for phone, 70 for cable 50/mo. for service and probably 75cents/min Reliability seems like it would be good but speed slow. How slow is slow. Can I get NOAA wind wave chart quickly.Talk to kids should be reliable? Finally an electronics guy said I could install cell phone antenna on the mast and probably use local island cell phone networks. Cheap initial cost cell phone island rates not cheap.How reliable? can I get weather fax? All input would be helpful Thanks

 

[Jack Swords]

Ham Radio/Pactor

If you can obtain a ham license (General or better) the use of a modem (Pactor) with your laptop is free. You operate in the ham bands and can communicate in voice, or data (e-mail). There is no charge. The Pactor II modem is about $600. Installation can be done by someone knowledgeable in electronics. You are allowed 30 minutes per day for each station you connect to for service. There are dozens of Gateways to connect to worldwide. From Mexico we commonly connect to stations in Maine, Cayman Is., and CA. Check out Winlink on the web. If you don't do ham radio, the same service is available via Sailmail which is $200 per year. Several precautions: you can't do commercial business on Winlink (OK on Sailmail), your SSB radio must be able to handle the workload. Much more info is available on the Winlink web-site including links. We use e-mail twice daily, receiving and sending from our sailboat whether in port or at sea. Check it out. Jack Swords